Kansas cold case solved: murderer sentenced after 44 years

After more than 44 years, a former neighbour has been sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison for the murder of a nursing student in central Kansas.

Mary Robin Walter, 23, was found dead from gunshot wounds in her trailer home in Great Bend on 24 January 1980. The case had gone cold until 2022 when a detective convinced Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir to reopen the investigation and utilise modern technology and techniques.

New evidence identified Steven L. Hanks, who was 25 at the time of the crime and had been an early suspect. According to the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, Hanks’ admissions during recent interviews led to charges being filed against him in 2022. At that time, Hanks was residing in Burden, Kansas.

On Thursday, Hanks, now 70, received a sentence for second-degree murder. Though his plea deal in August called for a 5 to 25 years sentence, Barton County District Court Judge Steve Johnson imposed a sentence ranging from 10 to 25 years.

The sheriff stated that this is believed to be the oldest cold case in Kansas to have been solved with a conviction.

Sheriff Bellendir expressed regret that many individuals affected by the crime had passed away before the suspect was brought to justice. He credited the resolution of the case to the dedication and tenacity of the officers involved.

Walter, who was a wife, mother, and nursing student, was shot multiple times. A .22-caliber handgun was found at the scene and identified as the murder weapon. The case had not been actively investigated since at least 1982.

Sgt. Detective Adam Hales and Lt. David Paden re-interviewed Hanks, who then confessed to the killing. Associate Deputy Attorney General Jessica Domme acknowledged their efforts, stating that justice was served due to their commitment to the case.

Hanks had previously served prison time for another crime. He was arrested in 1981 for rape, battery, robbery, and burglary, sentenced in 1983, and released in 1993, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

The sheriff’s and attorney general’s statements, as well as online court records, do not disclose Hanks’ motive for the murder. Sheriff Bellendir was unavailable for comment, and representatives from the attorney general’s office and Hanks’ attorney did not respond to requests for comment.